Shouldering Islands

Written by Smith Jones    Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Try the Caribbean in the fall for bargain breaks at luxurious beach resorts. The period from October to mid-December is called the shoulder season. It’s not as cheap as the summer off-season, put the prices are as much as a third off the deep-winner high season, and the level of services is the same. Here are out picks. Other Caribbean resorts offer similar values. Check with your travel agent. All prices, unless otherwise noted, are per night for double occupancy. Aruba. The brand-new Hyatt Regency Resort & Casino (opening September 1) in Aruba promises to be a winner. This 360-room resort has a three-level pool with cascading waterfalls, sparkling rooms with ocean views, live entertainment, a restaurant on a saltwater lagoon, and  a casino opening on October. If you can get there in September, you’ll get on opening rate of $115-$180. From Oct. 1-Dec. 19, price are $165-$240, followed by a high-season rate of $240-$335. Tel: 800-233-1234. Bahamas. The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Towers, on Paradise Island near the Paradise Island casino, has 366 ocean-view rooms. If you’re looking for water sports, y ou’ll find them here. Other facilities include a pool with waterfall and four lighted tennis courts. There is also room service and a good French restaurant. Rooms are $120-$130 through December 20. Tel: 800-325-3535. Barbados. Cobblers Cove Hotel, 11 miles north of Bridgetown, is a friendly, casual, and well-tended 38-suite hotel just down the beach from Claudette Colbert’s place. Each room has a kitchenette if you want to cook; the hotel features room service and an excellent seaside restaurant. Closed Sept. 1-Oct. 12; from Oct. 12-27 rates are at their lowest: $150 for a garden-view room, $175 for a deluxe ocean-view room. Prices rise to $200 and $255, respectively, from Oct. 28-Dec. 17. Tel: 800-223-6510. Dominican Republic. The Santo Domingo Hotel is a luxurious 225-room hotel facing the ocean. Oscar de la Renta, a frequent guest, did the décor, which features beautiful red clay tiles, as well as Dominican furniture. The hotel has a big pool and sun deck, three tennis courts, a popular disco, an excellent restaurant, and very pleasant rooms. Through  December 20, rooms are $110-$135. Tel: 809-535-1511. Grand Cayman. The Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman offers exquisite rooms on this island renowned for its snorkeling and scuba diving, among other water sports.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 23 February 2008 )